He wasn't the greatest player, but he seemed to bring up his best at the US Open. He was a player to watch, and an entertainer. Always seemed to have a starring role in those crazy night games that ended around 1 am.

He wasn't the greatest player, but he seemed to bring up his best at the US Open. He was a player to watch, and an entertainer. Always seemed to have a starring role in those crazy night games that ended around 1 am.

Miss him a lot too! One of my favorite players to watch. Just so athletic and hit so damn hard! Actually I just found out that for my freshman year at Harvard I will be staying in the same dorm he lived in (my suite is a floor up from where his was). Amazing coincidence!

Who cares? I'd still pay more to see him play against a good opponent at the time, than watching another baseline bashing between the current boring and robot-like top three.

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LOL....yeah but james blake played like a robot which was defective and malfunctioned constantly. He makes players like roddick look like a tactical out there.

seriously, james blake had the maturity of a high school player in matches. every time I watched him that was the biggest thing that stuck out. he would play incredible low percentage and make some ridiculous shots for a few games and then walk around stunned that he would start missing. I guess he felt the laws of physics geometry did not apply to his game....LOL. For a guy from Harvard he is really quite ignorant.

I liked Blake's go for broke style. That FH was a site to behold. He had personality. The whole J block thing was really fun at the US Open. And the guy went to Harvard, so he was obviously pretty smart too.

Ah, Blake. Great comeback story, seemed to be a genuinely nice guy most of the time, but when it came to his tennis he was either making himself look dumb or making the other guy look dumb. There was no in-between.

With that said... I can't imagine how frustrating it must have been to play a guy like that, and I mean that in a good way. After all, the book was out on Blake early on; hard hitter, fast as hell, but really inconsistent. All his opponent had to do was weather the storm, right? Generally a winning strategy... except for when it wasn't b/c Blake didn't miss for that match and the other guy walked off the loser. He was never going to contend for a major, but the dude was the epitome of the dangerous floater who was capable of ending damn near anyone's tournament early if the chips fell right and the tour knew it. Miss the hell out of him.

US Open in a few days. Comes next Wednesday or Thursday, I'll turn on the TV at around midnight, back from a tennis match, shower, eating, etc.. and I won't see James Blake. I won't see him wearing his tank top, beating the crap ouf ot the ball, going for broke on ROS like there's no tomorrow, fans going crazy... Cause, you know, that day at the Open will be over already. Or maybe some low-level clones of Djokovic and Murray will be out battling in a 5-setters, or Maybe Raonic or Karlovic will be finishing some American qualifier with unreturnable serves, but, meh...

Yeah, the guy had flaws and was often a let down, but he was still a great player to watch. Probably the most entertaining losing player to watch in any match.

I miss Roddick more over all because he was one of my favorites, but I do agree with OP, Blake had a number of special runs at USO.
His 2005 run happened to come the same year Roddick blew it to Muller.
Plus that entertaining 4 setter against Fed with Blake in his Agassi gear. Fun stuff.

And it wasn't just his game. I don't know why, but there was something other than just tennis going on during these late evenings. And for me it happened at the US Open, nowhere else. Maybe I'm just melancholic, or maybe there isn't enough ''personality'' into men's tennis these days, I don't know.

And it wasn't just his game. I don't know why, but there was something other than just tennis going on during these late evenings. And for me it happened at the US Open, nowhere else. Maybe I'm just melancholic, or maybe there isn't enough ''personality'' into men's tennis these days, I don't know.

The biggest underachiever of the past 20 years. Huge FH, good BH, excellent mover, physically on point, fearless return. Somebody mentioned he had the brain size of a pea. That's pretty much it, although I'm surprised he never invested in a better coach.

I am gonna bump this thread again, again and again, every year. Cause now we've got what? Ryan Harrison? Geez... first week of us open used to be filled with (at least one) crazy night match. Now, we have to get excited by watching a guy walking to the net to forfeit. Sad era.

I am gonna bump this thread again, again and again, every year. Cause now we've got what? Ryan Harrison? Geez... first week of us open used to be filled with (at least one) crazy night match. Now, we have to get excited by watching a guy walking to the net to forfeit. Sad era.

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This year has more five setters and more exciting matches with players coming back from 0-2 set deficit, but look like you are not following open.

The biggest underachiever of the past 20 years. Huge FH, good BH, excellent mover, physically on point, fearless return. Somebody mentioned he had the brain size of a pea. That's pretty much it, although I'm surprised he never invested in a better coach.

Seemed like he was always good for a fourth round run. I loved the pure slapshot forehand. I remember seeing the J Block in Cincinnati. They were kind of obnoxious, but I felt bad they never got to experience a run to a grand slam final.

Thinking about James Blake... I missed most of the best years of his career but get to see him play in a few months.

So what's the story on Blake as a player... seemed to be deadly off both wings and a good returner... a streaky shotmaker?
Not enough tactics? Certainly capable of beating anyone when on. Chime in and educate me about JB

He got into Harvard so you know that he is a sharp guy and has a good head on his shoulders unlike so many other touring pros. I think that it would be good for the game if he remains close and visually involved in it.